Lilah's POV :The days following the raid at the docks blurred into one long, painful haze. The weight of everything—the gunfire, the betrayal, and Ivan’s chilling words—pressed against my chest like a physical burden. I couldn’t sleep without hearing the echoes of bullets ricocheting off concrete or seeing Ivan, bloodied and stoic, leaning on Damien as we fled the scene.Now, we were back at the safe house, but it felt anything but safe. A storm brewed within its walls, a silence so sharp it was deafening. Ivan barely looked at me anymore. His cold demeanor, once tolerable, now felt like knives slicing into my skin.But it was better this way, wasn’t it? I couldn’t face him either—not when every glance, every fleeting touch, reminded me of the impossible choice looming ahead.My brother or Ivan.Robert or the man I had started falling for.The thought sent a pang of guilt surging through me. How could I even consider Ivan when Robert was my brother? The man who had helped raise me, w
Lilah's POV :The silence in the house was oppressive. I sat in the study, staring at the photograph of Ivan with Damien and Andrey, my fingers tracing its edges. The image of Ivan smiling—an expression I had rarely seen—felt like a cruel reminder of what I had lost. Or maybe, what I had never truly had.I clenched my fists, the storm in my chest swelling. How did everything become so tangled? How did I go from the girl who wanted nothing more than to keep her family safe to the woman caught between loyalty to her brother and feelings for the man who wanted to destroy him?I found Ivan later that night in the library. He was sitting in one of the armchairs near the fireplace, a tumbler of whiskey in his hand, his gaze fixed on the flames. He looked tired—more than I had ever seen him. There was a faint shadow of pain in his eyes, but it vanished the moment he noticed me standing in the doorway.“What do you want?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade.I swallo
Lilah's POV :The hallway stretched before me, dimly lit and silent except for the faint hum of voices coming from Ivan's office. My heart thundered in my chest, each step I took toward his door feeling heavier than the last. I had made up my mind.No matter how cold or distant he had been, I couldn’t hold back any longer. Ivan had consumed me—his strength, his ruthlessness, his rare moments of tenderness. I had to tell him how I felt. If he didn’t feel the same, I would walk away, but at least I would know.As I reached his office door, I stopped short, my hand hovering over the doorknob. The muffled voices on the other side grew clearer.“I don’t care who they are,” Ivan’s deep, commanding voice growled. “Robert dies first for leaking our plans to the Mexicans. He’s a traitor, and I’ll make sure he pays for it.”I froze, my breath catching in my throat.“And what about the others?” another voice asked—Damien’s, I realized.There was a pause before Ivan responded, his tone colder th
Ivan's POV :The first thing I noticed when I returned home was the silence. It wasn’t the usual calm, the kind I had grown accustomed to in my sanctuary—it was heavier, like something had been ripped out of place.I loosened my tie as I strode through the hallway, the sharp click of my shoes the only sound. The tension that had gripped me during the day—the Mexicans’ bold move, the betrayal, and the sheer chaos of my men scrambling to patch the holes in our defenses—still coiled like a snake in my gut.I needed to see her.Lilah.The thought of her, with her sharp eyes that always seemed to hold both fire and fear, had been my anchor through this storm. I had built walls around myself for years, but somehow, she had found cracks I didn’t even know existed.But I reminded myself why I had made the decision. It was the only way to protect everything I’d worked for. If I hesitated, if I allowed emotions to dictate my actions, I would lose everything.---I reached her door and knocked,
Ivan’s POV :The engine of my car roared as I drove through the deserted streets, my grip on the steering wheel tightening with every second that passed. The city was silent, the kind of quiet that preceded chaos. My mind raced, filled with calculations and fragments of memories I didn’t want to think about.Lilah.Her name was a curse on my lips and a brand on my mind. She had betrayed me, and yet, every fiber of my being screamed at the thought of harm coming to her. I couldn’t afford this weakness.Damien sat beside me, his usual calm demeanor masking the tension simmering beneath the surface. “The safe house is just ahead,” he said, pointing to a narrow alleyway. “We have two teams in position.”I nodded but said nothing. My thoughts were on her, and on the reckoning that awaited.---We parked a few blocks away to avoid drawing attention. Damien, Andrey, and Maxime flanked me as we moved through the shadows. The air was thick with the scent of gasoline and the faint hum of electr
Lilah’s POV : The tension in the air was suffocating, a thick, unyielding fog that pressed against my chest as I followed Ivan down the corridor. My steps were silent, but my heart roared in my ears like a storm. What am I doing? I should have run the moment I overheard Ivan’s cold command to kill us all, including Lucy and me. But the pull he had on me, the way he consumed my thoughts even now, was something I couldn’t fight. My body moved before my mind could stop it. The door to his office creaked open, and I slipped inside, careful to stay hidden in the shadows. Ivan stood by the window, his broad shoulders tense, his phone pressed to his ear. Damien was nearby, his arms crossed, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Kill him," Ivan’s voice was low but sharp, slicing through the silence like a blade. “Robert goes first. After that, no loose ends. Not Lilah, not Lucy. No one.” My breath caught in my throat, and the room spun around me. I gripped the edge of the wall f
Ivan’s POV : The office felt suffocating as I stood by the window, staring out into the endless city lights that mocked my failure. My jaw clenched, my knuckles white as I gripped the edge of the desk. Lilah was gone. Gone. She had vanished, slipping through my fingers like smoke. I replayed the moments in my head over and over. The sudden silence in the estate, the subtle trail of chaos left behind in the wake of her escape, and the whispered warnings of my men that had come too late. Damien stood behind me, his presence a steady anchor in the chaos of my thoughts. "We've searched the estate, every room, every corner," he said, his voice low but steady. "She’s not here." I didn’t answer. My mind was too clouded with anger and something else I refused to name. It wasn’t just Lilah who had escaped—Robert and Lucy were gone too. My men found signs of a struggle in the rooms, broken furniture, and bloodstains that suggested Robert had put up a fight. “She was in the room,” Damien
Lilah’s POV :The Hawaiian breeze felt alien against my skin as I stepped out of the cramped apartment Robert had secured for us. The vibrant colors of the island—blues that stretched endlessly into the sky, greens so lush they seemed almost unreal—should have brought some sense of peace. Instead, they mocked me.I wasn’t free.The island may have been paradise to some, but for me, it was just another cage, albeit with prettier walls.Robert had done his part well, setting us up with fake identities, fake lives. I was no longer Lilah Daniels; now, I was Amelia White, a tourist here with her family for a long vacation.“Stick to the story,” Robert had told us firmly as we unpacked. “If anyone asks, we’re just passing through. No questions. No loose ends.”He was right, of course. We couldn’t afford mistakes. Ivan’s shadow loomed too large, even here.But pretending was exhausting. Every smile at a stranger felt like a lie. Every casual conversation with a store clerk felt like a trap.
Lilah’s POV Fifteen Years Later...Life had a way of sneaking up on you, didn’t it? One moment, you’re sitting in a hospital room, holding your newborn daughter, and the next, you’re standing in the living room, watching her head off to high school with a backpack almost as big as she is. Time was a thief, stealing the days and weeks, leaving behind only memories of laughter, tears, and endless love.Emma was fifteen now, and her personality was a perfect mix of Ivan and me. She had his stubbornness and my kindness, his determination and my sense of wonder. She was beautiful, inside and out, with her father’s blue eyes and my dark curls. And she was all grown up.“You ready, sweetheart?” I asked, smoothing a wrinkle from her uniform.Emma turned to me with a smile, her cheeks flushing a little. “I guess so, Mom. It’s just high school, not the end of the world.”I chuckled, trying to keep my voice steady. “I know, but it’s a big step, isn’t it?”Emma shrugged, her eyes showing a matur
Lilah’s POV Five Years LaterLife had a way of speeding up when you weren’t looking. Five years had come and gone in the blink of an eye, each day a blur of laughter, tears, and endless love. Emma was now a lively, talkative little girl, full of questions about the world and a heart that overflowed with kindness. She had turned five, and her boundless energy and curiosity seemed to grow with each passing day.Ivan and I were sitting in the living room after putting Emma to bed, sipping on our favorite wine. The house was quiet, a rare occurrence in our busy life, and the peacefulness was almost surreal.“I can’t believe how big she’s getting,” I said, looking at the framed pictures on the mantel. They were filled with memories—Emma’s first steps, her first day of kindergarten, and the many other small moments that had made up our life together.“I know,” Ivan said, his voice soft. “It feels like just yesterday she was a little baby.”I smiled, tracing a finger over a picture of Emma
Lilah’s POV Four Years LaterTime had flown by in a blur of sleepless nights, endless laughter, and countless little moments that had quickly filled our lives. Our daughter, Emma, was now a spirited, four-year-old little fireball, her wild, curly hair and mischievous eyes mirroring her father’s playful nature. She was the perfect combination of Ivan and me—independent, stubborn, and fiercely loving.It was a sunny Saturday afternoon when the naughtiness in Emma finally made itself known. Ivan and I were in the living room, sharing a quiet moment after putting Emma down for her nap. The house was blissfully silent for once, a rare occurrence with a young child in the house.“I can’t believe our little girl is four already,” Ivan said, pulling me close for a kiss.I smiled, resting my head against his shoulder. “I know, it’s gone by so fast.”“I can still remember the first time I held her,” he murmured, his voice soft with emotion. “It feels like only yesterday.”I squeezed him tightl
Lilah’s POVIt had been two weeks since our daughter’s birth, and life had settled into a new rhythm. Ivan and I were finally finding our footing as parents, learning the delicate balance of late-night feedings, diaper changes, and quiet moments of bonding with our little girl. The early days were a whirlwind of sleepless nights and endless love, but slowly, we found our groove, leaning on each other for support and sharing the joy of our growing family.The house was filled with the soft coos and gurgles of our baby girl, a constant reminder of the love and happiness she’d brought into our lives. Ivan was an incredible father—so attentive, patient, and gentle with her. Watching him with our daughter melted my heart. It was a side of him I hadn’t seen before—soft, tender, and deeply loving.“I can’t believe she’s already two weeks old,” I said one evening as Ivan rocked our baby in his arms, a smile on his face.He glanced up, his eyes twinkling with pride. “I know. Time flies when yo
Lilah’s POV Three months had flown by in a blur of love and anticipation. The honeymoon felt like a distant memory, replaced by the reality of settling into married life with Ivan and the excitement of preparing for our new addition. We’d talked endlessly about names for our baby, tossing ideas back and forth, and now, finally, the day had arrived. It was a crisp, early morning when I felt the first pangs of labor. Ivan had been at the gym when I woke him, my voice trembling with excitement and fear. “I think it’s time, Ivan.” His eyes widened, his face lighting up with a mixture of awe and panic. “Are you sure?” I nodded, squeezing his hand tightly. “Yeah. It’s happening.” Ivan didn’t waste a second. He was on his feet, grabbing the hospital bag we’d packed weeks ago, his face a picture of pure determination. “Let’s get to the hospital, Lilah. We’re having a baby today.” It was chaos from then on. The drive to the hospital was a blur of hurried conversations, Ivan’s hands gripp
Lilah’s POVThe days following our wedding felt like a dream. We were finally married, our bond solidified, and now it was time for our honeymoon. Ivan had surprised me with a secluded beach resort, far away from the world’s noise, a place where we could just be together. It was perfect—the gentle waves lapping against the shore, the soft sand beneath my feet, and the endless blue sky above.We had spent our first night as husband and wife in a beautiful beachfront bungalow, the sound of the waves soothing as we lay together, holding each other close. It was surreal, waking up beside Ivan, knowing he was mine now, forever. He looked at me with those intense, dark eyes, his love for me shining through in every glance, every touch.“I can’t believe we’re here,” I said, lying on the bed, feeling the softness of the sheets against my skin.Ivan smiled, his eyes softening. “I know. It feels like a dream.”“Like the best dream ever,” I said, reaching out to take his hand.“I’ve dreamed of t
Lilah’s POVThe weeks leading up to the wedding were a whirlwind of emotions, each day bringing a new layer of anticipation and nerves. Ivan and I had talked about marriage for a long time, but now that it was actually happening, it felt surreal. My heart fluttered with excitement, but there was also a deep sense of fear. I was about to marry the man who had once terrified me, the man who had been both my captor and my savior. And now, he was my everything.We’d decided to keep the wedding simple—a small ceremony with just a few close friends and family. I didn’t want anything big or extravagant; all I wanted was to be with Ivan, to make a promise to each other that we would be there for each other, no matter what. And now, with our baby on the way, it felt even more important to make those promises.The day of the wedding arrived, bright and sunny with a hint of warmth in the air. I stood in front of the mirror, looking at myself in the simple white dress I had chosen. It wasn’t anyt
Lilah’s POVThe days blended together, a steady stream of quiet mornings and shared evenings with Ivan. Our new routine was comfortable, almost domestic, and I found solace in the simple things—cooking dinner together, the sound of his laughter, the feel of his hand brushing mine as we walked through the gardens. It was a life I never thought I’d have, a life I never dared to dream of.I was still adjusting to this new version of Ivan. He was different now, softer, more attentive. The hard, ruthless man I had first met had softened, his rough edges worn down by the years. He was still commanding, still powerful, but there was a vulnerability to him now, a need for me that was oddly comforting. I was learning to see beyond the tough exterior, to the man underneath—the one who had always been there, even when I didn’t know it.Tonight, as we sat in the garden, a light breeze ruffling the leaves around us, Ivan’s arm wrapped around my shoulders, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t known in
Lilah’s POVThe days after Lucy and Andrey’s departure passed in a quiet blur. The mansion seemed emptier without them, the walls echoing with an emptiness that seemed almost symbolic. Ivan and I settled into our new routine—me in my old room, Ivan always close by. There was a sense of stability now, a promise that made the loneliness and fear of the past seem like faded memories.I spent my mornings helping Ivan with the business, trying to find my place in this world I had once been so afraid of. The dynamics had shifted, though. Robert had found his stride, and it seemed Ivan’s unyielding support had finally clicked for him. The atmosphere in the office was more relaxed, the tension that had once hung heavy between them lightened.Ivan was different too. Softer, somehow. The hard edges that had always defined him had been polished away by time and the challenges we’d faced together. He was more patient now, less prone to the ruthless displays of temper that had once been his tradem